Getting Involved

'Comfort Zone Shadows'

I've been thinking about this for a while. There seems to be... less and less mentoring going on today in the upbringing of individuals. I really think a lot of concepts are being lost because of our generation's inability to teach, AND listen.
It's a tragedy, really.

There's a couple of things I think could help resolve this issue, I like to think of it as 'comfort zone shadows.' Think back to your years in school... branching out, trying to grow in character and popularity. There was a need to hang out with someone who was bolder than you. They stretched you and challenged. More than anything, they equipped you with skills to be successful. All of your best friends may have been major dorks, but there was something about them that you really enjoyed. I bet you can now think of the hundreds of ways you emulate other people. Like your high school best friends, there's a need to surround yourself with people who are successful where you're passionate. The same also applies for areas that you're extremely weak in.

Need for maturing youth - A wise generation.
1 Timothy 4:12-13 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Cliched, I know, but let me continue this idea with:

2 Timothy 2:22-26 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Paul was trying to lead Timothy to be more than a young man. This took a lot of work, probably years of investment, and Paul wasn't exactly your empty scheduled man. He planned YEARS in advance just to visit Churches he shared the Gospel with, all the while sharing the Good News. Examples in Speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. Must be able to teach, not resentful. Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. Sounds like a lot more than a lot of men I know today.

Beauty of Mentoring - Apprenticeship the old 4-Year Degree

I guess there was a time where Paul's story with Timothy was a common occurrence. I don't need to know the Bible inside and out (though it's an effective tool...), there's a lot things I can learn that aren't exactly spelled out in the Bible. Jesus calls us to the great commission, saying, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." My question is, "What does that look like?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basically, I want to get involved at a Foursquare Church in Bellingham. Over the last... year I found a thousand ways to talk me out of doing anything, but it's pretty clear what I should do. This song is my favorite song on the c.d. because it speaks something to me. Check it out:



- Joe